Pain after orgasm

[GingerIdiot]

Does anyone else experience intense pain after orgasm? It happens more when I'm on my own (if you catch my drift) and can last 10-15 minutes. It used to happen four or five days before my period started but has recently become more frequent, happening any time mid-cycle. It's a really intense pain - proper sweaty-faced, can't stand up stuff - and it's really putting me off sex and everything that goes with it!

I finally told my GP today and she said she'd never heard of it but is sending me off for an internal scan (ARGH!) and is checking for endometriosis.

Has anyone had anything similar and if so what was causing it?

I don't have children (yet - is it ok that I've just joined Mumsnet?!) so it's not a pregnancy related issue.

Thanks!

Been there, was the result of adhesions from a surgery as well as endometriosis.

Deep pain during sex is very indicative of endometriosis being present.
Any pain mid cycle that is cyclical in nature should be investigated further to see if endometriosis is the cause.

Do not be at all surprised if the scan does not reveal anything at all; endometriosis is NOT necessarily picked up on an ultrasound scan as these deposits are so small. In any case you should be referred now onto a gynaecologist for further evaluation. This is not a problem for GPs to try and deal with either.

I would keep a daily pain (from 1 to 10 scale) and symptom diary if you do not already do so as this would give the gynae clues.

Great advice from Attila I whole heartedly second it. Be prepared for the scans to show nothing and for you to have to request a gyne referral.

There are a few apps out which help you track pain & symptoms, you might find one helpful?

Look out for things like whether you have pain going to the toilet or whether you have to go more often than usual, they'll probably ask you that.

Thanks very much for the advice. It is quite specifically after I orgasm (and usually not from sex), and there's no more than occasional mild discomfort during sex, so I'm not sure if that still fits a likely endometriosis diagnosis?

For those who have had it, did it go away?

Pain in the abdomen on orgasm is more likely to be caused by adenomyosis than endometriosis - adeno is where the lining of the womb invades the muscle of the womb. When it contracts on orgasm, it is painful in the same way that it's painful when it contracts in labour, or during your period, because the muscle spasms and squeezes the invading tissue, which gets inflamed and hurts. Most gynos have no experience of this and will not think of it as a cause.

Endometriosis is more likely to cause pain on penetration than on orgasm as with penetration, pressure is put on the lesions or nodules of endo and that's very painful as they get inflamed. Endo on the outside of the womb could cause the symptoms, but it's quite uncommon and would tend to be more aggresive disease, so you'd probably have other symptoms as well.

Unfortunately, adenomyosis can only be reliably cured with a hysterectomy. There has been some experimental surgery called the osada procedure (i think) which tries to conserve the uterus. The other option is a Mirena coil.

It could also be fibroids, if they get big and press on a nerve when you orgasm, that could also be pretty painful. There are more options to get rid of them - more minor surgery, taking pill or other hormonal contraception to control the growth etc. other less common options could include pelvic floor dysfuntion or vulvodynia...

Referral to a gynae is the way to go, but try to see someone with an interest in pelvic pain or endo as they are more clued up.

It's worth mentioning too that a diagnosis of adenomyosis can only be fully confirmed by surgically exploring the muscle of the uterus after a hysterectomy. Prior to this any suggestion of having it can only be a 'suspected diagnosis'. So if you are given this diagnosis its important you find a consultant who's experienced enough for you to trust. Don't be afraid to do your research and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

If it is endometriosis I agree that you are quite likely to have other symptoms too. But as every case is so unique its very difficult to diagnose it immediately.

To answer your question, endometriosis doesn't necessarily 'go away' but there are a variety of ways that may reduce its growth; hormonal treatment such as the coil, surgery to remove adhesions, etc. And there are ways of managing the pain. As I said, every case is so different; some women with endo barely notice it and fire others it can be life altering.

Good luck at your scan, is it soon? Come back and let us know how you got on.

I don't have a date for it yet but I will come back with, hopefully, an eventual diagnosis. Thank you all!

A quick update: scan was today, results in one week. I tried reading the sonographer's expression but they have pretty good poker faces!

Thought I'd add the diagnosis, in case anyone googles orgasm pain ... yep, found out yesterday via surgery that I have endometriosis. A bit of a shock, but good to know I guess. Now to find out how it affects fertility... I may need a new thread for this! Thanks again all for your earlier advice.

I had numbness and pain, thought I'd used up all my orgasms! It was almost like my body couldn't distinguish between pleasure and pain. Turned out I had vitamin B12 deficiency. I had injections but have since gone onto sublingual B12 tablets and pleasure is on the menu again!

Glad you have a diagnosis and hope it is soon sorted. For anyone else experiencing this, it might be worth trying some supplements to repair any nerve damage in case it is as simply fixed as mine.

Marking this for own info, thanks for sharing your experiences